Lesson Plan 1 – October 29, 2025
Lessons From The Book Of Ecclesiastes.
Series Introduction
Welcome to Small Group season 2025/26. We are walking through the Book of Ecclesiastes.
The Bible is loaded with fresh discoveries for anyone who will read, meditate, and apply the lessons learnt. As usual, our approach will be to read chapters/verses of scripture as a group, with everyone taking a part in reading, and then we discuss our findings. SG Facilitators may also choose to have someone read while others follow along. The goal is to have everyone participate. I believe that the Holy Spirit is always ready to cause the word to come alive. Never forget that every scripture ultimately points to Jesus Christ with the goal that our lives are transformed in the image of Christ. The Lord himself, during His brief sojourn on Earth, said to the Pharisees who hated Him, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” In this SG Season, may the word of God show us Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit. Amen!
The Book Of Ecclesiastes
The author of Ecclesiastes was Solomon, son of David, who was king of Israel from approximately 1010 to 970 BC. We find proof of his authorship right in the first few verses opening the book.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 1:1 NKJV
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-13 NKJV
As king over Israel, 970 to 931 BC, Solomon had experienced immense wealth, pleasures, wisdom, knowledge, and all that the human heart could ever wish for. He also never fought any wars. The nation was prosperous under his reign of about 40 years. Please bear all this in mind as you navigate the book because Solomon writes from his varied experiences about the meaning of life. He is stylized as “the preacher” or “the teacher” by the scribes who wrote down his words for posterity. Interestingly, he meanders over several varied subjects and concludes in Chapter 12 with these words:
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV
including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Scripture Study Guideline
Today’s Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes Chapter 1: 1-18. Please read and discuss your findings.
What stood out to you? What do you think the Holy Spirit is telling you? Did any verse or set of verses jump out to you? Discuss your thoughts.
- Would you agree that in this first Chapter, Solomon expresses frustration and lingering hopelessness with life in general?
- Find the verses that show these frustrations, and with what things exactly? Think about your own frustrations with life. The richest and wisest man was also frustrated. Thank God for Jesus!
- In Verses 4-8, just before the middle of his frustrated outbursts, Solomon speaks of the perfection of nature, its cycles, and human limitation in understanding all of it. Do you ever look at nature and see God in creation?
“Vanity, Vanity, all is vanity” (Meaningless, all is meaningless NIV, NLT)
- The word “vanity” (translated meaningless in the NLT and NIV versions) appears 3-4 times in Vs. 2 and 14. Is life meant to be meaningless? Why do you think Solomon calls out in frustration that all of life and accomplishment is meaningless?
Conclusion
The book opens with a string of declarations of truth in the perfection of nature, while expressing hopelessness in hard work and profit, gaining knowledge, and human advancement as vanity (meaningless). We have good news. Christ came to reconnect mankind with God – The Creator, and so we have a purpose and meaning to our existence. Someone once said, “Life without Christ is confusion and crisis.” Even the richest man who ever lived testified regarding the emptiness of everything without God in our lives. Jesus declared these words:
36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mark 8:36-37 NKJV
Prayer Time
- Give thanks to God for this new SG Season and for the year 2025.
- Pray for a heart to understand as we learn from Ecclesiastes.
- Pray for one another’s needs and any other matter.
Announcements
- Prayer Summit, November 1, 2025, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
- Next Small Group – November 12, 2025.